| From the Atlanta Intelligencer |
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| October 16, 1863 |
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| Terrible Conflagration and Loss of Life |
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Steamboat Mary Wilson Destroyed by Fire
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Twenty-two Lives Lost
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It is our painful duty to chronicle a terrible disaster
which occurred yesterday. The particulars, so far as we have been able
to gather them, are about as follows: The steamboat Mary Wilson, used
as a ferryboat to carry the mails and passengers on the line of the
Mobile & Great Northern Railroad, between this city and the
railroad wharf in Baldwin country, while on her way over yesterday
(Sunday), at about 1 o'clock, and within about two miles of Blakeley {four
miles from Mobile},
with variously estimated) between 150 and 200 cabin passengers, 67
bales of cotton, the mails and sundries, accidentally caught fire, as
we learn, from sparks from the furnace. The wind was quite fresh from
the North at the time, blowing the sparks clear through the engine
room over the guards, &c., which set the cotton next to the
boilers on fire. The alarm was immediately given, and the passengers
and crew attempted to throw the cotton overboard, but so rapid did the
flames spread that in a few minutes all the cotton was on fire, which
almost enveloped the boat in flames.
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The pilot, a negro named Dan, the property of Col.
Kitchen, of Stockton, seeing the imminent danger of the passengers and
all on board, with undaunted courage stuck like Casabianca to his
post, and turned the boat's bow in to the left hand marsh, thus
enabling most of those on board to get on shore and save their lives.
A number who were on the stern of the boat, when she turned around
towards the marsh, were driven overboard by the flames and drowned.
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After all was done that possibly could be for the safety
of those on board, the captain, H. L. Toulmin; the engineer, Robt.
Valtz; and Dan, the pilot, got ashore safely. Within a few minutes
afterwards, the boat drifted on the opposite shore, burnt to the
water's edge, and set the marsh on fire, which at first created
another panic amongst the rescued people, causing them to scatter in
the marsh, but it was soon over. The news reached Mobile from Blakely
under the following circumstances:
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It appears that during the afternoon one of the telegraph
operators was out gunning and saw the Mary Wilson on fire. He repaired
immediately to the telegraph office and transmitted a message to
Mobile. Mr. Sandford, happening to be in the office at the time,
received it, saw its contents, and communicated the facts to the
officers of the road. Soon the steamer Robert Watson was made ready
and started to her assistance. On arriving they found her as described
above -- everything a complete wreck. The mails, the books, cotton,
and the boat, all a total loss; and, as near as can be ascertained, 22
lives were lost.
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It is said to be an impossibility to tell how many
persons were on the boat at the time therefore, it would seem
impossible to tell how many are lost. A lady by the name of Mrs.
Gunter, of Montgomery, (her husband is a member of the first artillery
company at Fort Morgan,) was burned to death. The body of a little
child of Mrs. P. E. J. May, who was on her way to Americus, Ga., has
been found drowned; another child was lost but the mother is safe.
There were twelve ladies on board, three of whom are lost.
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A great deal of praise is given to the officials
mentioned above for the coolness and courage which they manifested
during the whole time of the danger, and particular praise is given to
Dan. As an evidence the passengers within a few minutes raised the sum
of $180 in cash and handed it to him.
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Major Jack Reiley, Jr., of Gen. Longstreet's staff, who
was en route to his command, succeeded in reaching terra firma safely.
We learn that the Major was quite effective and gallant in saving some
of his companions from an untimely grave.
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